Northern Ireland

Former hockey coach and school teacher pleads guilty to sex charges

Glenn Stranex (51) at a previous court hearing
Glenn Stranex (51) at a previous court hearing Glenn Stranex (51) at a previous court hearing

A FORMER Co Down schoolteacher and leading hockey coach and umpire was today put on the Sex Offenders' Register after he pleaded guilty to a total of nine sex charges and two of child cruelty.

The 53-year-old childrens' author, Glenn Stranex, from Cairnsville Road in Bangor, was released on continuing bail until after the summer recess for sentence in September by Belfast Crown Court.

He had been accused of a total of 17 sex offences, dating from September 1989, including seven of indecently assaulting a child. However, those charges, and one of inciting a second child to commit an act of gross indecency, were allowed 'to remain on the books'.

Stranex pleaded guilty to the remaining nine charges, including one of voyeurism, which took place between September 2004 and September 2016, seven charges of making indecent images of children, and one of possessing 25 other indecent images of children.

In addition the hockey umpire and head coach for the Ulster under-16 team pleaded guilty to two other charges which were added to his bill of indictment.

In them Stranex, who also coached Randalstown Ladies First XI, and was Ulster Hockey's youth officer for under-15 girls, pleaded guilty to 'wilfully ill-treating a child in a manner likely to cause her unnecessary suffering'.

Releasing him on continuing bail, Judge Stephen Fowler QC told Stranex the amount of time he will be on the Offenders' Register, requiring him to notify police of his details, will be determined by the sentence ultimately imposed by the court.